CRG Publishing, a Division of The Curry Rockefeller Group, LLC, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) announce the launch of the third edition of the seminal reference book, Handbook of Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy For Infectious Diseases. This widely anticipated eHandbook is now available to more than 10,000 IDSA members in a first-of-its-kind interactive, digital format that allows for dynamic content delivery, including updates, easy access and review, and cross-platform compatibility. The eHandbook helps infectious-disease practitioners learn how to set up and provide outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT).

Together, CRG and the IDSA have transcended the limitation of traditional industry partnerships. Peter Ronick, Vice President and Managing Director of Digital Business at CRG, noted,“We have created a dynamic reading experience for the digital edition of the OPAT eHandbook. Content is engaging, highly interactive, and available on all mobile, tablet, and desktop devices. Since ePublications lend themselves to a wide array of user engagements, we have taken full advantage of this asset and developed animated pages and motion graphics, created interactive tools and widgets, produced high-definition videos and other rich media enhancements that make the OPAT eHandbook a very powerful resource.”

The patient/physician network and the structure of OPAT best practices allow patients to safely and conveniently complete their parenteral antimicrobial therapy while living at home. This is expected to result in better patient outcomes. “The major win will be in patient satisfaction as patients will receive care in home or in a much more comfortable setting in a physician’s office,” said Andres Rodriguez, IDSA Director of Practice and Payment Policy. “In the absence of an OPAT-integrated network, a person with an infection may go to the emergency room and then be admitted into the hospital. With OPAT, they can actually avoid a hospital stay, thus eliminating the risk of a hospital-acquired infection.”

Completely updated and rendered for digital publication, the OPAT eHandbook features a host of experts, including Editors Akshay B. Shah, MD, and Anne H. Norris, MD, who provide comprehensive, cutting-edge advice for the OPAT practitioner. Topics explored in the eHandbook include Infections Amenable to OPAT by Nabin Shrestha, MD, MPH, and Ajay Mathur, MD, and OPAT for Pediatrics by Antonio C. Arrieta, MD. Legal and Reimbursement Issues in OPAT and OPAT & Health Care Reform also receive expert coverage.

Special recognition goes to our primary sponsors, Allergan (formerly known as Actavis) and The Medicines Company, who provided support to create the OPAT eHandbook.

Scott J. Larson, CRG’s Chief Strategic Officer, said,“CRG’s collaboration with the IDSA has been extremely positive and is a good example of how two organizations coming together can provide a much needed educational resource to assist patients in need of OPAT.”

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) is an organization of physicians, scientists, and other health care professionals dedicated to promoting health through excellence in infectious diseases research, education, prevention, and patient care. The Society, which has over 10,000 members, was founded in 1963 and is based in Arlington, VA.

The Curry Rockefeller Group, LLC (curryrockefellergroup.com), advances the understanding and application of life sciences through delivering end-to-end scientific communications strategies that combine exceptional scientific support and state-of-the-art delivery solutions. CRG also manages strategic publication plans and works with thought leaders to produce clinical and scientific abstracts, manuscripts, and monographs. The Curry Rockefeller Group of Companies is located at: 660 White Plains Road, Suite 410, Tarrytown, NY 10591.